"Honored guests, what brings you to our village?"
The village chief saw that Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong wore splendid clothes and had extraordinary bearing. At a glance, he could tell they were important people.
He hurried out of his house to ask.
Thinking that these villagers might have ties to Xu Jie, Ning Fengzhi treated the village chief very courteously. He asked, "Sir, this is Soul King Village, isn't it?"
"Yes, honored guest, this is indeed Soul King Village. What can we do for you?"
"Sir, we'd like to ask you about someone. Do you know Xu Jie?"
The village chief shook his head. "Xu Jie?"
"There's no one named Xu Jie in our village."
Ning Fengzhi did not believe him. Though Yu Xiaogang was quite inept, he would not joke about something involving Xu Jie. Besides, Tang San had indirectly confirmed Xu Jie's existence.
"Sir, please think carefully. From what I understand, there should be a child named Xu Jie from your Soul King Village."
"He is fifteen now."
"He may have left Soul King Village many years ago."
"Sir, do you remember him?" Ning Fengzhi pressed.
"Something from over ten years ago? I really wouldn't know. We only moved to Soul King Village seven or eight years ago. If you want to find out, I'm afraid you'll have to find the previous villagers."
Ning Fengzhi understood what the village chief meant, but it only made him more curious. He asked:
"Sir, could you tell me what exactly happened to Soul King Village in the meantime?"
"I don't know exactly what happened. All I know is that the people of Soul King Village left together nine years ago."
They left Soul King Village together nine years ago!
Ning Fengzhi repeated those words inwardly.
Wasn't nine years ago exactly when Yu Xiaogang met Xu Jie?
Yet the people of Soul King Village had all left together.
I'm certain there's something wrong with this Soul King Village. There's something fishy going on!
"Sir, do you know where the villagers who left Soul King Village are now?" Ning Fengzhi asked excitedly. As long as he could find those villagers, he could learn more about Xu Jie.
He trusted his intuition more and more.
The Xu Jie currently at Mount Lu Residence had to be the Xu Jie whom Yu Xiaogang had met nine years ago, and the Xu Jie who had come from Soul King Village.
"Honored guest, let me think." The village chief began to ponder.
"Sir, please help us. This matter is extremely important to my daughter and me." Ning Fengzhi fished a Gold Soul Coin out of his pocket and pressed it into the village chief's hand.
The village chief accepted it with a chuckle. "Oh, honored guest, I couldn't possibly accept this. I couldn't."
"But I do remember running into Zhang Tie in Nuoding City a couple of years ago."
"Zhang Tie used to be the chief of Soul King Village."
"That old fellow used to be just as poor as me, but when I saw him two years ago, he was much richer than I was. That old fellow must have made a fortune!" the village chief remarked.
Ning Fengzhi pressed, "Sir, where in Nuoding City could we find Zhang Tie?"
"In the southern part of the city, there's a Zhang Mansion. It's very lavishly built. Just ask around and you'll find it," the village chief said, recalling.
"Sir, thank you very much."
"Rongrong, let's go. We're heading to Nuoding City next to find Zhang Tie, the former village chief." Ning Fengzhi called to Ning Rongrong and left Soul King Village.
Ning Rongrong really did not want to go to Nuoding City, but faced with Ning Fengzhi's demand, she did not dare defy him too much. She could only follow him out of Soul King Village in low spirits.
Outside Soul King Village.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong had been waiting outside the village for Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong to come out.
"Sect Master, did you learn anything about Xu Jie? Was it really as you suspected?" Chen Xin asked curiously.
"Uncle Chen, I've confirmed it. The Xu Jie at Mount Lu Residence is the Xu Jie whom Yu Xiaogang met nine years ago, the one who came from Soul King Village."
Excitement filled Ning Fengzhi's voice as he continued:
"The current Soul King Village is no longer the Soul King Village it once was. The previous villagers moved away nine years ago. I've learned that their village chief, Zhang Tie, is in the southern part of Nuoding City."
"Let's head straight to the southern part of the city now."
Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong left Soul King Village together.
Chen Xin summoned his martial soul, the Seven Kill Sword, and enlarged it, letting Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong stand on it before flying toward Nuoding City with them.
Gu Rong followed behind the three.
Meanwhile.
The people from Shrek Academy had also left Spirit City, planning one last gathering. Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, and the others had reached graduation age as well.
Yu Xiaogang still refused to give up on Tang San.
He kept pestering Tang San.
Tang San wanted to sever their master-disciple relationship and shake him off, but that was simply impossible. He would never agree to it.
Inside the hotel.
Yu Xiaogang, you truly deserve to die. Why must you stop me from running toward a better future?
Since you're courting death, you can't blame me!
Tang San stared at Yu Xiaogang's back and muttered inwardly, his desire to kill Yu Xiaogang burning ever hotter.
Yu Xiaogang knew nothing of this. He naively believed that this method would keep Tang San by his side forever.
Zhang Mansion, southern Nuoding City.
Chen Xin, Gu Rong, Ning Fengzhi, and Ning Rongrong appeared before the gates of the Zhang Mansion.
"I suppose Zhang Tie is inside this Zhang Mansion?"
"We'll know once we go up and ask." Ning Fengzhi led Ning Rongrong toward the Zhang Mansion.
"My lord, my lady, who are you looking for?"
Seeing Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong's splendid clothes and extraordinary bearing, the Zhang Mansion's two gatekeepers did not dare slight them and hurried forward to ask.
"Young man, we're looking for Zhang Tie. Is he at home?" Ning Fengzhi asked courteously.
"Oh, you're here to see the master."
"I'll go inside and announce you." One of the gatekeepers turned and ran into the mansion.
Before long, a little old man emerged from the Zhang Mansion, approached Ning Fengzhi, and said with a smile:
"Honored guests, please, come in. Whatever brings you here, let's discuss it inside."
Seeing Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong's extraordinary bearing and luxurious clothes, Zhang Tie invited them straight into the Zhang Mansion.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong followed them into Zhang Mansion.
The main hall of the Zhang Mansion.
Servants bustled back and forth, bringing Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, Gu Rong, and Chen Xin plenty of snacks.
Zhang Tie asked, "What brings you two honored guests to this old man?"
"Patriarch Zhang, were you the chief of Soul King Village? We'd like to ask about Xu Jie," Ning Fengzhi inquired courteously.
"Xu Jie," Zhang Tie murmured, his thoughts drifting back to nine years ago once more.
After he finished reminiscing, he said with feeling, "That child Xu Jie was a good child, a capable child. To think nine years have passed in the blink of an eye."
Ning Fengzhi, Gu Rong, and Chen Xin exchanged glances, unable to hide the delight in their eyes.
It seemed their earlier deduction had indeed been correct.
The Xu Jie at Mount Lu Residence and the Xu Jie from Soul King Village were indeed the same person.
"Patriarch Zhang, please tell us about Xu Jie. We'd be deeply grateful," Ning Fengzhi asked sincerely.
Before you continue